Spring cushion assembly for upholstery



Aug. 16, 1955 M. J. RYMLAND 2,715,435

7 SPRING CUSHION ASSEMBLY FOR UPHOLSTERY Filed April 12, 1954 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR MURRAY J. RYMLAND BY fiwzwpw mw ATTORNEY/3 Aug"36, 1955 M. J. RYMLAND 2,715,435

SPRING CUSHION ASSEMBLY FOR UPHOLSTERY Filed April 12, 1954 2Sheets-Sheet 2 m m m w m 2 W W A 3 A L m m R O J. w W M S w m u M M \I/b 1 1 l G B S F TL m 0 3 h 3 L [a S K 7 United States Patent SPRINGCUSHION ASSEMBLY FOR UPHOLSTERY Murray J. Rymland, Baltimore, Md.

Application April 12, 1954, Serial No. 422,477

1 Claim. (Cl. 155-179) The present invention relates to an improvedspring assembly for upholstery and the like.

An important object is to provide a coil spring cushion assemblyincluding an outer continuous border of coil springs of any suitableconfiguration and within which are confined a plurality of rows of innersprings shaped and positioned to coact with one another so that when thespring cushion is compressed, it produces substantially the samedesirable soft and comfortable feeling or effect that is obtained bycompressing a rubber cushion.

A further object is to provide a spring cushion including an outerborder of helical springs within which is loosely enclosed a pluralityof substantially barrelshaped springs lighter and of smaller diametersthan the outer springs so as to provide means for producing a twowaycompression of the coil of each inner spring when the same is depressed.In other words, the particular configuration of the inner helicalsprings instead of producing a straight top to bottom compression aftera certain point of the springs is compressed, produces not only a top tobottom compression of the inner springs, but also a bottom to topcompression which is caused by the barrel shape of the coils and theengagement at the midway point of each contiguous inner spring. Thus,spring cushioning means are provided which produces substantially theeffect and softness as a rubber cushion.

Another object consists in associating with the outer or border springs,upper and lower fiat border wires, each of which crosses the springs atpoints offset from their diameters so as to enable these springs towithstand the wear and pressure to which they are normally subjected.Additionally, the inner barrel springs are insertable or positionedwithin the outer border springs without any anchoring. In other words,the arrangement is such that the inner barrel-shaped springs may becasually introduced into the space formed by the outer border springswithout the necessity of precision in placing or arranging the innersprings in this open area. Once the inner springs are inserted, the onlytying means required are a few pieces of cord or twine that extendslaterally in order to give some semblance of order and position to thesprings.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying claim and drawings.

Referring to the drawings in which is shown one form the invention mayassume:

Figure l is a plan view of a spring cushion assembly constructed inaccordance with the invention and with parts cut away for clearness ofillustration;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially along the line3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 44 of Figure 1 showing the springs confined in their fabrichousings;

Patented Aug. 16, 1955 "ice Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 butshowing the inner and outer coil springs compressed; and

Figure 6 is a detail side View of a row of the barrel shaped innercoiled springs when removed from the housing and showing the engagementof the adjacent central convolutions or ribs and the reduced tapered endportions spaced from each other.

Referring to the drawings, the spring cushion assembly which isprimarily intended to be used with an upholstery unit, is indicatedgenerally by the numeral 16). The cushion 10 includes an outer border ofhelical springs 11 comprising spaced transverse or end rows 12 (Fig. 1)having eight springs to each row and side rows 13 com posed of elevensprings in each row. For the purpose of illustration, the outer borderof coil springs 11 is shown in the form of a rectangular frame, however,the size and shape of the frame as well as the number of outer coilsprings may be varied as necessitated by the particular use to which theupholstery cushion is to be used.

The closed space 27 within the outer border springs 11 is filled withlongitudinally and transverse rows of inner coil springs 14 which are oflighter gauge than the outer border springs 11 and are of substantiallybarrel shape.

Each of the outer transverse rows or ends 12 and the side rows 13 of theborder springs 11 is encased in a fabric housing 15 preferably formed ofa piece of suitable flexible durable material of the desired length, andwhich is folded medially so as to provide a closed top 16 (Fig. 4) andis provided with longitudinally disposed spaced pockets 17 by thevertical spaced lines of stitching 18 (Fig. 2). The length of eachpocket 17 is such that when a coil spring 11 is inserted, the abuttinglower ends 19 of the folded fabric are stitched together as at 20 (Fig.4). Metal tie wires or rings 21 extend through each pocket 17 at theupper and lower ends of the springs 11 so as to peripherally connectadjacent springs.

Each of the longitudinal rows of inner springs 14 is similarly enclosedin a fabric housing 22 (Fig. 3). The adjacent housings of each row ofsprings 14 are connected by webs 23 secured together by a vertical lineof stitching 24 so that the barrel shaped springs 14 are independentlypositioned within the pockets 22 formed in each of the housings 22. Thetop of each of the pockets 22 may be closed and the bottom opened so asto receive a spring 14 and cover the same when closed by thelongitudinal line of stitching 25 (Fig. 4).

Thus, it will be seen that the outer rows of coiled springs 11 aresuitably encased in the fabric pockets 17 and that the inner rows ofsprings 14 are similarly enclosed in pockets 22' but have their endsfree and unattached. The adjacent longitudinal rows of inner springs 14including the housings 22 may be loosely connected to each other bytransversely disposed spaced pieces of string or cord 26 (Fig. 1)extending at right angles to the webs 23. The inner coil springs 14 whenloosely connected together by the spaced strings or flexible members 26can be casually introduced into the space 27 (Fig. 1) formed by theouter border springs 12 so as to properly align themselves and withoutrequiring any pre-determination of their placing in the space 27relative to the outer border springs 11. The springs 14 in eachlongitudinal row are slightly offset or staggered relative to itsadjacent row in order to snugly fit within the spaces 27. In otherwords, when the inner springs 14 and their housings are positionedwithin the outer springs, there is no necessity to connect the ends ofthe inner springs to one another or to adjacent outer springs, and theloose flexible connection afforded by the spaced strings 26 extendinglaterally of the rows, is sufiicient to yieldably maintain the innersprings in proper compact position relative to each other and the outersprings.

Each of the inner barrel springs 14 has a convolution or rib 28 (Fig. 6)positioned halfway or centrally between the length of the spring so asto provide an upper coil portion 29 and a lower coil portion 30 thatextend in a reduced taper outwardly from the central rib 28 andterminate in the straight curved terminal portions 31, which engageadjacent convolutions so as to provide smooth ends. When the innerbarrel-shaped springs 14 are positioned in the pockets 22', they aresubjected to slight compression and are slightly contracted as shown inFigure 4. The adjacent barrel springs 14 each has its large centralconvolution or rib 28 engaging or abutting the central convolution 28 ofan adjacent spring to provide a certain degree of tightness, while thetaper portions 29 and 30 that extend in opposite directions from thecentral portion 28 are laterally spaced from the convolutions ofadjacent springs in order that the end portions may act freely andindependently. By reason of the slight engagement of the centralconvolutions 28 of the barrel springs 14 when the parts are assembled,means are provided for causing the adherence of the central coil ofbarrel spring 14 with the central coil of an adjacent spring so as toprevent lateral displacement. Due to the barrel-shape arrangement of theinner springs 14 as contrasted to straight coil springs of uniformdiameter, not only a compression from top and bottom is provided butalso a bottom to top compression is obtained, thus eliminating thenecessity of tying the rows of inner springs together such as heretoforehas been the prac tice. Further, the action of each of the barrel-shapedsprings 14 when subjected to compression is from both an up and a downdirection towards the center of the spring, in order 'to produce thedesired soft rubber cushion effect.

The half spring portions 29 and 30 of the inner springs 14 (Pig. 6) aregradually reduced by the narrowing down of the convolutions 'to theirouter ends 31, with the result that the spring cushion thus formed bythe coaction "of the inner barrel-shaped springs 21 with each other andwith the outer border springs 11, imparts to the cushion 10 the samedesirable soft and comfortable effects as produced by a rubber cushion.Further, the rows of inner springs are sufliciently close as to preventcupping or canting of the springs and insure a uniform distribution ofthe load or weight thereon.

By reason of the barrel-shaped construction of the inner springs '14,the adjacent springs will only engage or abutat their midway points soas to impart a certain degree of tightness to the springs in order tomaintain them in proper position when the parts are assembled. In otherwords, the opposite ends of each of the barrel springs are of reducedtaper and prevent the end coils from leaning or rubbing against eachother. Further this novel arrangement causes the ends of the innersprings to act independently and freely of each other, so as to impartto the assembled springs, a soft rubber cushion-like action withoutrequiring the use of additional anchoring means.

The outer rows or border springs 12 and 13 may be anchored or connectedtogether by a bottom flat metal strap or wire rectangular frame 32 and asimilar shaped upper flat border frame 33 (Fig. 4). Each of the fiatframes 32 and 33 is connected to the housings of the outer springs by aflexible member or cord 34 (Fig. 1) that extends through each of thehousings and is tied by spaced knots 35 thereto. The straps 32 and 33extend transversely of the top and bottom of the'outer rows of springsso as to extend continuously around the same and cross the springs atpoints offset from the center or diameters of the springs 11 in order toprovide means 7 housing and the entire assembly is covered by theupholstery 3-6 "in order to provide a spring cushion having all the softand comfortable attributes of a rubber cushion.

By reason of the novel arrangement of the barrelshaped springs 14 andthe co'action with the cylindrical springs 11, a rubber-like feel isimparted to the spring assembly, since instead of being a one-waycompression from the top only of the springs when pressure or weight isapplied to the cushion, there is provided a two-way compression afterthe springs are compressed to a certain amount and the bottom portions30 of the springs 14 begin to depress themselves with the results thatthe cushion produces the same feel as is obtained when compressing slabor foam rubber.

It will be understood that the form of the invention 9 shown is merelyillustrative and that such changes may be made as come within thescope'of the following claim. I claim: j A spring cushion assembly forupholstery including an outer continuous border row 'of fabric-encasedhelical springs, the space within said border springs being filled witha plurality of rows of coil springs casually introduced bodily into saidspace so as to properly align themselves without requiringpredetermination of their placement relative to the outer border springsfabric casings having spaced pockets in which said coil springs areseparately enclosed, 'said coil springs being of stantially barrel shapeand free from connection with the border springs, said barrel springshaving central convolutions engaging one another and their 'ends spacedapart so as 'to produce a'rubbercushion'eifect when compressed, theengagement of the central convolutions of adjacent barrel springsserving to prevent lateral "dis placement, upper and lower flexible flatmetal frames connected to the border springs, said frames 'e'txendinglongitudinally of the, top and bottom of the border springs and offset relative to the diameters thereof so as toanchor the border spring's andenable them to withstand the wear and pressure to which they arenormally subjected, a flexible member connected to each of metal framesand to the outer housings and the b" springs to maintain the bordersprings in a fixedf positio'n relative to the n mes, transverselyextending longitii'din'ally 'spacedfiexible means connected to the'rfo'wof 1 re'l'springs and to the barrel springhou'sing's for looselyconnecting the row of b'arrel springs together, "and'sai d barrelsprings being-positioned 'suificiently close to each other topreventcuppingor cantingjof the arr l'springs and insureauniformdistribution of the weight thereon.

References Cited in the file of this pate tit v UNITED STATES PATENTS1,051,466

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